Websites from the ISKCON Universe
New Govardhana devotees once again took to the streets of Murwillumbah to participate in this year’s Banana Festival Read more › 
A small farm in the Netherlands has started a new program for people seeking to reduce their stress levels. No, it’s not meditation, the psychologist’s couch or a deep tissue massage – it’s cow hugging Read more › Read this inspiring story about two people’s recent visit to New Vrindaban:
“My fiance and I are working on a travel blog as we journey across the US. One of the places we stopped was New Vrindaban. We just posted about our incredible time there in my blog. The story is called “My Sweet Lord: New Vrindaban, WV”.
PICTURE: Swami Prabhupada, Patti Harrison, George Harrison, and Dhananjaya Das, circa 1974.
Here is my blog (just click on it) with a sneak preview, below.
“Swami Prabhupada’s message was simple: Krishna – an avatar of the god Vishnu – is the Supreme Godhead, and the chanting of his name will bring about a legion of good. For strict adherents, there is a code of morals and ethics, but taking up the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra** was offered as a simple practice for anyone and everyone. The only other prescription Prabhupada had for the general public was to give up eating meat.”
With free Wi-fi, contemporary public art projects, design fairs and a new cafe policy, Gorky Park is one of the most popular places in Moscow. What could be a better place for the devotees to stage a congregational glorification of Lord Shri Krishna! Read more › 
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday, by the Lord's grace, we walked the sacred grounds from Yavat to Ter Kadamba and on to Asesavan. It's one of the most beautiful and mystical journey's through Sri Vrindavan Dhama Read more › 
The Ahimsa Dairy Foundation is a non-profit organisation that produces and delivers entirely slaughter-free and organic milk to the London and Home Counties. Cows are retired when they are too old to give milk and male calves are spared from being killed as most are in a conventional dairy. We treat all of our animals with dignity until the end of their lives. Read more › 
Antardwip das: View the cool camerawork and editing and the great Bhajans and Kirtans of Polish Woodstock - also the complete three days of the recent HH Jayapataka Swami European Retreat.
All in one place. All with the original tweets. All just for you! Read more › HH Kadamba Kanana Swami at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Came across this short video of a man in Australia who tracked his mother back in India after he lost his real family after having fallen asleep as a small boy in a train. While watching the video, these thoughts flashed across my mind:
1. One has to be prepared to put in their heart and hard work if they want to achieve something
2. We must all take up a journey to find what we have really lost in life – spirituality
3. The Lord is also waiting for us anxiously and patiently for us to come back and knock at His door.
4. One must have the right tools in life to achieve the right destination – spiritual teacher and devotee friends are what we actually need.
In all cases, the endeavor has to be ours while the mercy awaits us.
Google executive Ray Kurzweil’s plan to live forever | News.com.au.
Came across this article on a news website where a top exec and the head of his company’s engineering division is planning to live forever by relying on 150 vitamins/day, regular body check-ups and reliance on future scientific developments. He seems convinced about his planning. The link above takes you to the actual news report.
What does Srila Prabhupada have to say?
Nobody wants to die. Everyone knows that “I shall die.” But if there is immediately some danger, fire, immediately you go away from this room. Why? I do not wish to die. I do not wish to die. Although I know I must have to die. Still, why do I go away? I know that… “Oh, let there be fire. I have to die today or tomorrow. Let me die.” No. I do not wish to die. Therefore I go away. This is psychology. So everyone wants to live forever. That’s a fact. So if you want to live forever, then you have to take to Krishna consciousness. So Krishna consciousness is so important and nice. Everyone wants to live. So actually, if you want to live, then you take to Krishna consciousness. This verse confirms it. Ayur harati vai pumsam udyann astam ca yann asau. The sun is rising early in the morning. As it is rising, gradually it is taking your life. That’s all. That is the business. But if you want to defeat the sun… Sun is very powerful. It is very difficult to fight. But you can fight with the sun. How? Simply by reading Krishna-katha, the words of Krishna. Uttama-sloka-vartaya. Vartaya. Uttama-sloka, Krishna. So this is the simple process. You don’t waste your time by talking nonsense.
Lectures, June 13, 1972, Los Angeles
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 September 2013, Durban, South Africa, Initiation Lecture)
In the Caitanya Caritamrta, it is stated that if one commits the ten offences then one is delaying the result of the holy name or delays serving the holy name and ISKCON is a movement dedicated to serving the holy name.
The chanting of the holy name is not a mechanical process. Rather, it is attracting Krsna and attracting the mercy of Krsna and when offences are committed in the chanting of the holy name then Krsna withdraws himself. So when Krsna withdraws himself from the name then the mercy of the name is no longer present in the same way, depending on the seriousness of the offence.
The first offence is maybe the most important of all - to blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to preaching the glories of the holy name. Devotees are filled with mercy because devotees are carrying Krsna’s grace. Krsna is pleased. Krsna is pleased with the service that the devotees have rendered. It is said in the Krsna Book that Krsna is known as Acutya, which means he is infallible and he never fails to notice the smallest service rendered. So when devotees have dedicated themselves to pleasing Krsna so much, he reciprocates and therefore Krsna smiles upon his devotee.
So how can one criticize that devotee!? It hurts Krsna directly, therefore Krsna cannot tolerate that his devotees are being blasphemed or criticized. So we should be careful of even minor criticism of devotees. It may not uproot our bhakti creeper but it may destroy our taste in devotional service. Whereas major offences to vaisnavas are known as the mad-elephant-offence as that can uproot our devotional creeper.
Let us always be positive and glorify the vaisnavas and in that way, automatically, offences are avoided.
Well I guess it’s nice to be noticed, we all want to be noticed right?
We want our fame and glory to be spread amongst the three worlds for all to hear right?
Sat amongst the amazing devotees I was faced with what deep down I already knew, no not fame or glory but infamy: “So I guess you know what nick name some devotees have for you? The Kirtan Killer”
Yes! What ever you do don’t ask me to lead unless it’s a strategic plan in getting people to leave, the words cut, Yes! as the saying goes the truth hurts indeed as I returned home looking at the instruments their I found myself unable to pick one up and play, indeed as we enter kartika it is proving a struggle.
Meditating on the comments allows the mind to play tricks, well if they were even a little caring then at least one of the critics should have the told me to my face; then given their musical talents offered to help, that’s what devotees do right?
I was missing the point, this was a lesson not in what others should be doing for me but how I firstly can learn humility but also take the experience and look at how personally I deal with others.
The disease is that we find fault, criticise even at times put people down, these are not becoming qualities, but also do we actually take the time to talk and listen to the person and then see if we could actually help.
Sat in the temple room since the comments I have been filled with dread, please don’t ask me to sing; and on several occasions sadly I have turned down the request that I sing the Nrsingadeva Prays for fear of offending those expert musicians forgetting that to be asked is unique and that those sincere will see the determined devotion.
Yes another lesson practical indeed to see the determined devotion even if the results may not be perfect; this way is we are looking not at quality but sincerity would we criticise?
Or more to the point would I criticise?
In many ways through the hurt of the truthful words comes an opportunity to learn more about myself and how I deal with others; and I guess this is Krishna Consciousness for you it peels away the many layers and reveals to us who we really are in order for us to learn.
But I am glad also of Krishna’s provision as next week will be the second community Diwali and this year their has been a kind offer to play for me although they don’t know it get they will be leading; for preaching things should be done nicely.
And I guess they could have been more cutting and added my total lack of being able to read sanskrit but that’s a whole different topic.
And for now all glories to those devotees who have not left when I’ve lead kirtan indeed who with great smiles joined in, now that’s a truly remarkable compassionate set of devotees
The post Octobober 21st, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited the asrama of Subhari Muni, which is hidden deep in the Vrindavan forest, next to the Yamuna river. Devotees relished bhajans with Bada Haridas and an instructive talk on Subhari Muni's pastimes. All glories to Sri Vrindavan dhama! Read more › 
Kiev congregation of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness – the largest community of followers of Hare Krishna in Ukraine. Due to the active and coordinated activities of the community in Kiev was built and is currently expanding the greatest temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in the post-Soviet countries are constantly being published regularly print – newspaper "House of Prabhupada" , operates the largest branch of the charity 'Food for Life "in Ukraine , and everyone can go to study Vedic Sciences in Kiev Theological Academy of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Read more › 
The Lotus Trust was established in 2005 as an International charity working in the UK and overseas to alleviate poverty and distress. It is an educational, relief and development agency seeking to transform lives and improve the environment both in the UK and overseas. Read more › Pickin’ Potatoes in New Vrindaban – A Picture Tells a Thousand Words
Potato Pickers on a sunny day in October.
Bliss
A Meditation Break
High Fashion in the Fields
Too much bliss.
It was a great day! Going back to the temple now.
Preetam whether he can neuter his cat and Ananta Purusottama how to overcome the bad habit of complacency.
Coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Manhoman Singh’s three-day Russia visit, over a hundred followers from different Hindu organisations here staged a protest against the demolition of a site where devotees of ISKCON used to offer prayers in Moscow. Read more › 
Tamohara Prabhu, the current GBC Chairman, who holds a PhD in psychology, inaugurated the GBC strategic planning meeting at Radha Rasabihari temple in Juhu Beach Mumbai. Other than the GBC members, there were 60 leading devotees from all over the world who attended this year’s conference.
Krishna Consciousness Is The Real Wealth By HH Radhanath Swami
